Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton left Thursday’s Recreation 3 loss in Cleveland with what the crew known as left calf tightness. The suitable-hander instructed Dan Martin and Greg Joyce of the New York Submit that he’ll go for imaging earlier than Friday evening’s sport.
Aaron Boone known as upon Hamilton within the sixth inning whereas New York was trailing 2-1. He issued a leadoff stroll to Lane Thomas earlier than Daniel Schneemann hit a grounder to first base. Jon Berti knocked the ball down and flipped to Hamilton overlaying for the out. Hamilton evidently tweaked his calf whereas working to the bag. He threw a warm-up pitch after a replay of the decision at first. He airmailed the throw and was instantly lifted for Tim Mayza.
Hamilton had a breakout season in 2023 after signing a minor league contract. He tossed 58 innings of two.64 ERA ball behind a 28.9 p.c strikeout charge and a very good 55. p.c grounder share. His follow-up has been extra strong than nice. Hamilton allowed 3.82 earned runs per 9 throughout 35 regular-season appearances. The strikeouts dipped by a number of share factors whereas his groundball charge plummeted to a pedestrian 43.8 p.c clip. The 29-year-old missed a few months midseason with a lat pressure.
New York has carried Hamilton on every of its playoff rosters, although he hasn’t performed an enormous function. He made one look within the division collection, working 1 1/3 scoreless frames with three strikeouts within the Yankees’ Recreation 2 loss to the Royals. This was Hamilton’s first motion of the ALCS.
If the Yankees want to exchange him on the roster, his season can be over. Gamers taken out halfway by means of a playoff spherical are ineligible for the next collection. The Submit writes that one among Mark Leiter Jr. or Clayton Beeter would step into the bullpen as a substitute. Beeter solely has three MLB video games below his belt. Leiter has much more expertise and appears more likely to get the decision.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com relays (on X) that Boone indicated Leiter was the ultimate lower from the pitching employees when the Yankees set their roster earlier than the collection. New York acquired the right-hander from the Cubs on the deadline. Leiter was placing out practically 35 p.c of batters confronted on the time. He has continued to overlook a good variety of bats within the Bronx (31.7 p.c strikeout charge), however has given up far an excessive amount of arduous contact. Leiter has been tagged for six homers in 21 2/3 innings as a Yankee and has been left off each collection rosters to this point.
